Buffing-gear for draw-bars.



APPLICATION FILED DEG. 16 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. HOOK. BUFPING GEAR FOR DRAW BARS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snodvtoz JAMES Hoov 4 JAMES HOOK, OF KANILLA, IOWA.

BUrFING-GEAR non. DRAW-BARS.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Application filed. December 16, 1912. Serial No. 737,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES HOOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Manilla, in the county of Crawford and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bufling-Gear forDraw-Bars, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bufiing gearfor draw bars, and an object thereof is the provision of a device ofthis character in which the draw bar may move longitudinally to relievethe coupler of the strain which is usually imposed thereupon incident tothe starting and stopping of the cars.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter comarrangements, and combinations of parts to prising a drawbar' having a longitudinally extending stem, the stem extending througha stationary block, and springs mounted upon the stem on either side ofthe block whereb the draw bar is cushioned upon movement in eitherdirection.

With these and other objects in View, my invention resides in the novelconstructions,

be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention illustrating theapplication of the same; 2 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on theline 33 of Fig. 2 with the springs and the draw bar removed;Fig. 4: is a section takenvon the line H of Fig. 1 showing the springsand the draw bar removed; Fig. 5 is a section taken on'the line 5-5 ofFig. 1 showing'the springs removed,

and Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6.6'

of Fig. 1 showing the springs and the draw bar removed; Fig. 7 is afragmentary elevation partly in sectionshowing the connection betweenthe draw bar and the draw bar stem.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numerals 1 and 2designate the upper and lower supporting plates respectively which aresecured to the car frame at the ends thereof by suitable bolts 3 orother fastening means, the plate 2 being ofi'set near its inner end asat4 and extending outwardly as at 5 in spaced parallel relation withtheplate 1. The plates are formed near their forward ends with centrallyarranged longitudinal slots 6, and the draw bar 7, which may be of anydesired construction, is arranged between the plates and the bolts 8 arepassed'through the inner end of the draw bar and through thelongitudinal slots 6, the bolts being maintained in position by suitablenuts 9. It will be seen that the draw bar is capable of longitudinalmovement in the plates, by reason of the engagementof'the bolts 8 in thelongitudinal slots 6 of the plates.

An abutment plate 10 is fixed to the inner end of the draw bar 7 andextending rearwardly from the central portion of the draw bar betweenthe spaced portions 1 and 5 of the plates, is the draw bar stem 11 whichextends through the center block 12 which is held stationary in theplates by rivets 13. The inner end of the draw bar stem 11 is threadedas at 14, and mounted thereon is the rear abutment plate 15 which isheld in position thereon by the nut 16 threaded upon the end of thestem. Abutment plates 17 and 18 are arranged upon either side of thecenter block 12 and arranged around the stem 11 between the bearingplates 10 and 17 are suitable coiled expansion springs 19 and 20, thespring 20 being arranged within the spring 19. are arranged on the innerend of thestem 11 between the bearing plates 15 and 18, the springsbeing arranged upon the stem, so

that an equal portion of the stem will be disposed upon either side ofthe center block 12 Whenthe draw bar is in normal position. The tensionof the springs on the stem 11 may be regulated by adjustment of the nut16 on the threaded end 14 of the stem, according to the weight of theload carried in the cars.

While the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings is thepreferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that minorchanges in construction may be made without departing from the spiritthereof, or sacrificing any of its advantages as determined by thescopeof the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent is:

A device of the character described comprising a pair of plates securedtogether at one end, one of said plates being oifset and extending inspaced parallel relation with the other of said plates, each of saidplates being formed in its free end with a longitudinal slot, a draw bardisposed between the free ends of said plates, bolts passing through theinner end of said draw bar and through said slots whereby said draw baris slidab'ly maintained between said plates, an apertured block seuredbetween said plates inwardly of said draw bar, a stem extendinglongitudinally from said draw bar and disposed through the aperture insaid block,

and springs mounted on said stem on'either 10 side of said blockas andfor the purpose described. a 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.-

JAMES HOOK.

Witnesses: I

B. O. WILKINSON, V H. P. WAHL.

